I’m originally from New York City, where I fell into this field by accident. I was a knucklehead in high school, who didn’t like being there and rarely went.  One day I was caught leaving and was brought into the office. They looked at my file and said, “He never comes. Just throw him in the wood shop for the day.” I took to it like a duck to water! I finished the semester’s project in three days with two weeks left in the marking period, getting my FIRST passing mark since being in high school.

At that point, I went from failing everything and never going to class to a 95 average in every class from there on! 

I’ve been in the woodworking field for more than 30 years fabricating, installing and finishing high-end furniture. About 20 years ago, I began to focus on the finishing process almost exclusively. New York is such a competitive market that being skilled in multiple parts of your trade is a huge bonus. Being able to repair furniture that you work on is a necessity.

I started my company in 2007, catering to cabinet and furniture shops that didn’t have or couldn’t afford a finisher. I offered “freelance finishing” only when they needed it, which kept overhead low for them. I would complete their work in their shops after they’d left for the day, often working through the night. This was after I’d left my day job and over the weekends.

My first job after moving to Maryland was for a restoration company called Joseph’s Refinishing and Upholstery. I was their outside repair tech, and I also did some of the refinishing in their shop. My second job was running the finishing department for TW Perry, for about four years. I created the door finishing system that they still use today!